In a dispatch sent to ministries, agencies, and provincial People's Committees on the evening of 10/4, the Ministry of Home Affairs addressed recent information suggesting that civil servants, public employees, and workers might receive several consecutive days off during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day and 30/4-1/5 holidays by swapping working days with weekly days off.

The Ministry of Home Affairs affirmed that the holiday schedule follows current labor law regulations. Accordingly, Hung Kings' Commemoration Day is a one-day holiday, and the 30/4-1/5 period includes two days off. Between these holidays are two normal working days, 28-29/4, during which civil servants and public employees work as usual.

This marks the second time the Ministry of Home Affairs has stated there is no policy to swap public holidays, adhering instead to the announcement made at the beginning of the year.

Between the holidays are two normal working days, 28-29/4. *Graphic: Ta Lu*

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor yesterday afternoon announced the results of an online survey on holiday swap options, involving over 70,000 workers. About 35% of participants chose to shift the compensatory day off from 27/4 to 29/4 to get 5 consecutive days off. About 28% opted to swap to 2/5, allowing them to work 6 days in the week and have 4 continuous days off; 28% did not want to swap and preferred to keep 27/4 as a day off; about 9% had other opinions.

The survey aimed to gauge workers' desires regarding holiday swaps. By law, if a weekly day off coincides with a public holiday or Tet (Lunar New Year), employees are granted a compensatory day off on the next working day. While the Vietnam Trade Union did not formally propose a swap, it recommended a more flexible approach to balance legal regulations with the actual needs of workers.

Young people take photos with a veteran on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, in TP HCM, 4/2025. *Photo: Hoang Viet*

This year, Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (10th day of the 3rd lunar month) falls on sunday 26/4, so employees will receive a compensatory day off on monday 27/4. Those who have a two-day weekend schedule will have 3 consecutive days off from 25/4 to 27/4, while those who only have sunday off will have 2 days off on 26-27/4.

For the 30/4-1/5 holiday period, those with a two-day weekend schedule will get 4 consecutive days off from 30/4 to 3/5, while those who only have sunday off will get 2 days off on 30/4 and 1/5.

According to regulations, employees working on a weekly day off are paid at least 200% of their salary; if they work on a holiday that coincides with a weekly day off, the minimum salary is 300%.

Hong Chieu